As I am sitting here watching this film, it occurs to me that I haven’t done a review in awhile. With that be said, I think that Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is hands-down the best artistic performance of the careers of Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet thus far. Seriously.

What drew me to this film is that I am a huge fan of both Winslet and Carrey. I have followed Carrey’s career since literally infancy, and Titanic is one of my favorite movies. Additionally, I am drawn to this movie because it is from one of my favorite production companies, Focus Features.

When I first saw this movie for the first time, I’ll have to admit that the above reasons are the only reasons I watched that movie. But I am happy to say that there are different reasons that I view this film today.

If you are not familiar with the storyline of the film, the film tells the story of a couple who have broken up, and they have their memories of their time together erased. This film is the journey of them finding each other in their memories again.

When you first view the film, one of the most stunning contrasts of this film to everything else I’ve seen. The camera angles are simply inspired, and it gives you that “indy” feel to films. It doesn’t always have the best lighting, it doesn’t always have the best sound, but it has an sort of odd “feel” to viewing the film.

But the coolest element of this film is that it has a larger message than many of the films we find in mainstream popular culture. In this film, the question of whether it is better to forget the memories because of pain, or keep them for the pleasures they have brought. In addition, it speaks about the value that people have in our lives, and how their departure from our lives can really have an impact upon our lives.

Like I said before, the performances of Jim Carrey and Kate WInslet are simply inspired. More commonly known as a funnyman, Carrey takes a very serious role and performs very well. I literally believe the emotions he is experiencing on screen and the motivations behind each action. Carrey plays Joel, a man who is very reserved, and socially awkward, from my understanding. Joel encounters Clementine, played by Winslet, who is quite his polar opposite. She is irrational, outgoing and rather “out-there” so to speak. She makes the decision to wipe Joel out of her memories rather abruptly and sudden.

We travel with Joel through the process he takes as he follows her through this process of having his memories wiped.

Is it better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all?

This film strives to answer this question and it pulls it off rather effortlessly. I highly recommend this film to anyone who wishes their media to make a comment about the reality of humanity, human heartbreak and love itself. It makes the conclusion that the good memories you make in the process prior to the heartbreak….they may be worth more to you one day than the heartbreak itself.

As I sit here with my cup of coffee, sipping out the remains of the wonderful french vanilla flavoring, my mind wanders into the different areas of my life that I have not chosen to reveal on this blog. Now, there are certain things that I inherently keep private, because that is a natural decision that pours out from who I am, but there are some things that really need to be brought to light and need to be addressed, need to be advocated for and need to be made known, particularly when the issue is at a crucial point in its fight.

Recently, the US Supreme Court has been hearing arguments on the status of same-sex marriage. Yesterday, that Court failed to announce its decision, and will hopefully announce it in the beginning of next week. Regardless of the decision that is made, the tides will turn and life in the US is going to change as we know it. Last year, North Carolina put on its ballot Amendment One, which was pushed for as a “gay marriage” amendment. (Despite the fact that this is a vote against civil unions. Not gay marriage. Additionally, when this same law was approved in Ohio, it was used to ensure that the rights of those in domestic partnerships were not protected.)

We can debate about the issues and the rights/wrongs of being gay til we become blue in the face. We can discuss the ethics and we can discuss the motivations behind it. We can even try to get to the source of a person’s gay desires. But…that’s not what I’m talking about.

There are just some things that are not up to discussion. And I do believe that this is one of them. Regardless of what you believe, whether you believe it is right or wrong…the single crucial factor that remains is the answer to the question of: “What is equality? How can we apply equality?”

The notion of equality is a very lofty standard. It is such a high standard because it requires us to get off of our selfish pedestal and make sure that the rights and values of those around us, regardless of our agreement to their belief, to make sure that those rights and values are protected. To believe in someone else’s rights does not interfere or restrict my own rights. I think this is where people get all messed up on the topic of gay marriage. Let’s apply this to my experience at Subway. I always get the veggie sub. If a man in front of me gets a sub with meat, and the lady behind me gets a salad…does either of their choices affect me? Surely not. It’s the same with gay marriage. Just because you don’t agree with it, does not mean that someone else’s decision or way of life affects yours. Should this gay marriage decision be passed…it does not invalidate any marriages already deemed acceptable or “straight”. In fact, it adds to the beauty of the face of mature relationships everywhere. Brittney Spear’s 72-hour marriage reflects even more poorly on the face of marriage than does two gay people who have been together for years.

Let’s put this in another perspective. I am pro-choice. I believe it is the mother’s right to choose, and no one should be allowed to make that choice for the mother, because it is the mother’s body that will be affected by the pregnancy. Personally, I am also pro-life. If the circumstance ever were to happen to me, I don’t think that I would be able to terminate a pregnancy. I do not see these as two opposite heads of the same quarter, because in acts of war, capital punishment and other circumstances, I am also pro-life. I do not believe that we accomplish very much by killing people. I don’t think it’s right that we try to teach people that killing people is wrong by killing people. Let’s say you are a man, and we have no prior experience, we just pass each other on the road everyday….does my personal belief affect you? Not at all. We still simply pass each other on the road everyday as we drive to work.

I find the need to challenge myself again. To do something. A lot of times, I start something and then I lack the motivation to finish it off. Except food, most of the time anyways. Anyways…I want to start something and finish it this summer. Last summer, I started the Harry Potter series, and finished it around December. Which was not so bad for a summer project. So I’ve been thinking about the possibilities and the potentials. I want to write something. I am not sure what it is about yet, nor do I know the message that I want to convey, but I do know that I have the desire to write.

I used to write creatively alot. I’m now blogging and I am attempting to do so on a semi-regular basis, because I have a lot of thoughts that I just feel the need to share. But anyways, I feel the urge to write creatively, to create fiction and to create characters that explode off of the page. I’ve already written a book of nonfiction, and although it hasn’t been published yet, nor do I think it will be published anytime soon….but that’s not enough. I want to write something that will be seen, even if I’m just standing out on the street corner, passing out copies of my manuscript for people to read.

I also want to read more. I mentioned this to someone the other day, but it’s like a cycle, me and reading. Our relationship gets very passionate around springtime, and then it just fizzles out as the year goes along. But I do want to read.

I’m gonna be doing some traveling this summer, and I want to take pictures of things.

I just don’t want to waste my life and my time off. I have the opportunity to have days where I can frolic and have fun, so I need to take advantage of those days.

I also feel the motivation to try to be healthier. I already eat pretty decently healthy, I think, and so I really want to accelerate this journey to being healthy by being healthy in soul and in body. Part of that is getting into a healthier mind frame, one that is free of plagues and cancers of the spirit. And then the other part of it is finding some sort of excersize routine. I have heard excersizing on a regular basis not only helps you sleep better, but also helps with the pooping schedule! So, yeah!

So that’s my summer. Continue this journey with me and I’ll do my best to keep you updated!

So…these are some songs that seem to be running through my head as of recent, and so I decided to share them with you!

This song is like the first song I hear in the mornings. Now, keep in mind that I leave my house at 6 am to get to work, but this is like the first on my playlist on my iPod. I love this song because I love Michael Jackson, and I feel like this song takes me back to certain MJ songs, including the awesome dance moves. J. Timberlake is pretty fantastic.

This song I can’t get over. Ever since the GLEE episode comprised of many Bruno Mars’ songs…I’ve loved this song. It’s just such a beautiful celebration of how love has this way of adding to the beauty in a person. These guys make performing this song rather effortless.

Jason Mraz is the top. He is. But this is a beautiful cover. I know, alot of people don’t like covers, but I like to hear what it sounds like with different voices every now and again. These two young people appeared on the Ellen show, and since then I have been following them. Top!

Singing in the Rain! Love this movie, love this show…love, love, love! The actors are impeccable and the melody is wonderful. This is my song I wake up to when it’s been a late night.

Buble is going to go down in my history book. He’s such an incredible singer, and you can tell that the music doesn’t just go into his ears, but it starts in his heart and it’s just bouncing around in there and he has to get it out. He’s such an engaging singer, and I am just a big admirer of what he does.

I am a fan of MUSE and this is one of my favorite songs that they’ve done. It’s upbeat, it’s rather chaotic and I love it! I am such a big fan of them, and this song is just wonderful. The only respect I have for the Twilight movies is that they have a wonderful person behind the scenes, selecting music.

Who doesn’t love Adele? I love the message of this song the most, because it talks about the potential that could’ve been. I’ve learned to stop spending time wondering what “might’ve been” or “could’ve been” and just live in the moment.

It has happened. Seriously. I have reached an age of my life in which I am looking at the things in the world around me, and I’ve learned enough to realize the simple fact of the matter is that there is a huge generation gap between myself and people who are in high school/college. This realization has come to me just recently as a result of several things, so aha! I give you the:

Ways You Know You’re No Longer Young

So you love him, huh? You’ve known him for four days! Dated for two! This is the exact quote that ran through my mind earlier this evening when I was checking up on FB statuses (stati?). I say that to make the statement that I am much more careful about loving people than I was in high school. I definitely wait a while before I tell people how I feel about them, even if they are pretty awesome. You don’t wanna throw around the word “love” you want it to mean something. Or at least I do.

If I were able, I’d go to bed at 8:30 every night. Doesn’t mean I do, but it would be a nice paradise.

My eyes don’t open until I’ve had my caffeine. Coffee, tea: Elixir of the Gods.

I’ve quit some pretty bad habits. Not because they’re bad for me, but because I don’t want my kids to be a part of that or have to grow up with that.

I work! At a job! That pays me money! And from that money, I face bills. I pay my bills. I make loan payments. If being broke doesn’t make you feel like a grown-up, what does?

I take a multivitamin, and B-12, and L-Lysine, and Fiber pills. I am becoming a druggie.

I still believe in, and use, proper grammar. None of that boyizzzeees crap. You even sound dumb!

I love a child like it’s my own kid. Seriously.

My friends are getting married. Yeah….it’s weird to think about. When will it be my turn??

I make really profound self-realizations about myself. I am getting old. I am deaf. I’m socially awkward. I have OCD.

I do not understand modern music/TV. Really. I’m not sure what it’s about.

I think the 90s were ten years ago. They were, um, ALL THAT!!!

I identify with the Golden Girls. Except Blanche. She and I will just be good friends.

I have schedules. I have times where I clean, times of the week when I grocery shop. Habits I have. Times I poop. Really.

I have walked to school uphill both ways in three feet of snow. Thank you, Boone, North Carolina.

All in all, getting old ain’t so bad. I am enjoying it. It’s nice to have the experience that I have. I realize and recognize that I am not as old as some of my fans out there are, but dang, the time flies and I am not getting any younger!

I have to say that hands-down, the best movie I’ve seen in a long time. Seriously. Seriously! (Okay, I feel like I’m channeling Izzie from Grey’s Anatomy.) But seriously. If you haven’t seen it, you should stop reading, go get it and watch it. Fo’ shizzle. Anyways, I don’t know what took me so long, but I am now here, able to talk about the amazingness of the film.

First, the storyline. It’s rather interesting. You’ve got a guy, whose wife cheated on him, which resulted in him beating the literal crap out of the affair guy. Which ends up in him going to a mental hospital. He gets out and he has to figure out how to live his life beyond that. He meets a girl and she’s just as crazy as he is, and they have to figure out how to live life the way they are. There’s more stuff, but eh, that’s the majority of it, without giving some spoilers.

A moment on the deeper issues here: it seems like we are seeing a trend in our entertainment venues, that the entertainment is no longer for pure entertainment values, but for a reflection value on who we are as people. I mean think about it, we are mental beings. We are. So it stands to reason that we should eventually have movies and plays and music that appeal to the mental side of us, that make us think about the ways that we respond.

I think the story resonates deeply within me because I have had such an experience with people who have issues that plague the mind. I have OCD. I have friends who have struggled with bipolar issues. I deal with grief. It’s rather refreshing to see them on film and them not being presented in a way to make fun of them, but to reveal the reality that these people have to live in.

Jennifer Lawrence is rather stunning. If I wasn’t a big fan of her before, I sure am now. I am excited to see where she’s gonna go in her career.

So, yes, go watch this. Because you should, and because it’s awesome. And who doesn’t like a lil’ falling in love every now and again? 😉